tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32415948568602907032017-07-29T03:02:59.830-05:00Seasons with the StrattonsWalking Baseball Life By FaithMartha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-58395653547102226432015-04-29T08:03:00.000-05:002015-04-29T08:05:44.275-05:00Summer Reading List <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QYanqXItCM/VT_xl8-3yFI/AAAAAAAAGoE/T18Dt3CY8Ew/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QYanqXItCM/VT_xl8-3yFI/AAAAAAAAGoE/T18Dt3CY8Ew/s1600/Untitled.png" height="640" width="406" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><u style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></u></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Reading is something that I have enjoyed from a really young age, but I catch myself opting for Netflix over a book. &nbsp;I'm trying to make an effort to read more this year, and what better way than a Summer reading challenge! I'm so excited to be&nbsp;participating in <a href="http://megancstroup.blogspot.com/2015/04/semi-charmed-summer-2015-book-challenge.html">Megan's Summer 2015 Book Challenge</a>! I really enjoyed finishing this challenge last Summer. &nbsp;I love that the different categories make me read books that are out of my comfort zone. &nbsp;And a little baseball season activity is always welcomed!&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><u style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">General rules:</u></span><br /><ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The challenge will run from May 1, 2015, to August 31, 2015. No books that are started before 12 a.m. on May 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on August 31 will count.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Each book must be at least 200 pages long. Audiobooks and large-print books are fine, as long as the regular print versions meets this length requirement.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch the category of a book during a later check-in, that's fine, just be sure to account for that in your point total.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Rereads can be used for a maximum of three books in the challenge. This rule is meant to encourage you to try new books while still allowing you to revisit books from your childhood or young adulthood that you might get more out of now. Please reread the&nbsp;<i>entire book</i>&nbsp;within the timeframe of the challenge in order to count it; no simply finishing old books or partial rereads.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will&nbsp;be invited to contribute a category for the next challenge.</span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Here is my preliminary list! I might switch things around, but I'll be sure to update&nbsp;y'all on the must reads this Summer. &nbsp;If you've read any of these, I'd love to hear your opinions!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">5 points:</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">&nbsp;Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8872336-bittersweet?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist</a>&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">10 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book you have never heard of before. (Just go to a shelf and pick a book based on the cover, the title, whatever you want!)</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18081809-landline?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Landline by Rainbow Rowell</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">10 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book that has been on your TBR list for at least two years. (If you've had a Goodreads account for 2+ years, this will be easy to figure out. If you don’t, do your best to pick a book you’re pretty sure you’ve been wanting to read for years.)</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7937843-room?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Room by Emma Donoghue</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">10 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book that won a&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2014" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Goodreads “Best Book” award in 2014</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143905-the-opposite-of-loneliness?ac=1">The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan</a>&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">15 points:</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">&nbsp;Read a book by an author who is completely new to you.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17802724-the-husband-s-secret">The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty</a>&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /><b>15 points:&nbsp;</b></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book by an author you have read before. (No re-reads for this one.)</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693716-one-plus-one?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">One Plus One by Jojo Moyes</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">15 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book with "light" or "dark" in the title. (Or "lightness" or "darkness.")</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5886881-dark-places?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Dark Places by Gillian Flynn</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">20 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book with the name of a city, state or country in the title.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10915.Salem_Falls?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">20 points:</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">&nbsp;Read a book with an animal on the cover.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22668746-still-the-one?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Still the One by Jill Shalvis</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">25 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book that is part of a series with at least four books.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100915.The_Lion_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe?ac=1"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis</span></a></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">25 points:&nbsp;</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Read a book that is longer than 500 pages long. — Submitted by winter finisher Kristen from&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.seeyouinaporridge.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">See You in a Porridge</a></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32542.A_Time_to_Kill?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">A Time to Kill by John Grisham</a>&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">30 points:</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">&nbsp;Read a book with an alliterative title. (</span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">All&nbsp;</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">words in the title must begin with the same letter; no exceptions for articles or prepositions. Examples:&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12837725-gone-girl" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gone Girl</a></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">&nbsp;or&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/325085.Nicholas_Nickleby" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nicholas Nickleby</a></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">. Yes, this is tough, which is why it's worth the most points!)</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3685.Black_Beauty?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Black Beauty by Anna Sewell</span></a></span></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-76106442925074970212015-04-24T14:53:00.002-05:002015-04-28T14:34:56.689-05:00Oh Hello, Season Three Well hello there! Since I last blogged, two months ago, we have moved from Mississippi to Arizona to Virginia and started our third baseball season. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opkDewzgbME/VT_g2YugOVI/AAAAAAAAGn0/X24QJWONzIs/s1600/Oh%2BHello%2C%2BSeason%2BThree.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opkDewzgbME/VT_g2YugOVI/AAAAAAAAGn0/X24QJWONzIs/s1600/Oh%2BHello%2C%2BSeason%2BThree.png" height="74" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />So let's backtrack a little bit. &nbsp;Spring Training in Arizona was wonderful. &nbsp;I just love getting to spend February and March in a place that is 80 degrees and sunny. &nbsp;Chris got to experience his first Big League Spring Training and absolutely loved it! A little baseball clarification, there is a separate Minor League and Major League Spring Training. &nbsp;Chris got a non-roster invite to this year's Big League Spring Training. &nbsp;It was a great experience for him to be on the Big League side and meet all the guys and learn how things work over there. &nbsp;Let's just say, he never wanted to go back to the Minor League side ever. &nbsp;There is definitely a difference ha!<br /><br />So the last week of Spring Training is always super stressful for us Minor League families that don't have contracts that dictate where we spend the season. &nbsp;So a few days before Chris hopped on a plane, we were told we would start the 2015 season in Richmond, Virginia with the Flying Squirrels. &nbsp;We actually got to spend the end of last season here thanks to our <a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/2014/07/recap-of-craziest-week-of-our-lives.html">first in-season call up</a>. &nbsp;It was a great feeling coming back to a place that we actually recognized. &nbsp;I was able to find a great apartment that let's us have our dogs. &nbsp;Having our pups definitely helps keep me sane when Chris is on long road trips.<br /><br />The season has gotten off to a pretty smooth start. &nbsp;I credit that to us having our "baseball season" routine as stable as any baseball routine can be since we've done this two seasons. &nbsp;I also credit it to actually coming back to a place we have spent some time. &nbsp;I don't feel like the adjustment has taken as long, and we have already settled into a good routine.<br /><br />So that catches you up on the life of the Strattons in the past two months. &nbsp;I plan on being a consistent blogger again, but I also plan on soaking up our real life here and focusing on enjoying our baseball community this season!Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-73385980697501370042015-02-25T06:30:00.000-06:002015-02-25T06:30:00.916-06:00What Does the Bible Say About Fear? // Wednesday's Words <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rb42l5DoIY4/VO1JopygssI/AAAAAAAAGig/spwJLryKn5w/s1600/Surrendering%2Bour%2BFears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rb42l5DoIY4/VO1JopygssI/AAAAAAAAGig/spwJLryKn5w/s1600/Surrendering%2Bour%2BFears.png" height="402" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to be honest and admit that I had a completely different post written for today, but I chickened out at the last minute to post it. &nbsp;I thought I was ready to share some major fears of my heart that I have had to surrender, but I wasn't quite ready. &nbsp;The post is safely waiting in the draft folder for when I am ready to share.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So instead, I found my five favorite Bible verses about fear in hopes that they will bring you the same peace and comfort as they have brought me.&nbsp;</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1d8UJfu7cso/VO1Qn1butjI/AAAAAAAAGiw/a6-rvQQMvRo/s1600/What%2Bdoes%2Bthe%2BBible%2BSay%2BAbout%2BFear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1d8UJfu7cso/VO1Qn1butjI/AAAAAAAAGiw/a6-rvQQMvRo/s1600/What%2Bdoes%2Bthe%2BBible%2BSay%2BAbout%2BFear.png" height="640" title="What does the Bible say about fear? " width="434" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>&nbsp; Philippians 4:6-7</b></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippians 4:6-7 is probably my favorite Bible verse about fear because it reminds me to pray my anxieties away. &nbsp;If I'm being honest, prayer is not my&nbsp;first reaction when anxiety and fear start to creep in. &nbsp;Tears are my first reaction, and from experience prayer is much more effective than tears. &nbsp;</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. &nbsp;</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Psalm 34:4</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the reminder in Psalm 34:4 for us to <i>seek </i>the Lord. &nbsp;Sometimes I feel like we just expect him to&nbsp;take our fears away without us asking. &nbsp;Like it is some kind of one-sided relationship and he is our fairy god <strike>mother</strike> father that just takes away fears as he sees them. &nbsp;Yes, the Lord will absolutely take away your fears if you seek Him and surrender your fears to Him. &nbsp;It isn't a "you get three wishes" thing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. &nbsp;</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>1 Peter 5:6-7</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And guess what? The Lord is so much better than a fairy god mother or&nbsp;genie in a bottle because <i>He cares for you. &nbsp;</i>I think we get the good (so, so good) end of this deal. &nbsp;The creator of the world <i>cares for you. &nbsp;</i>I can't think of anyone I would rather surrender my fears and anxieties to!&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. &nbsp;</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>1 John 4:18</b></i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And not only does the Lord care for you, but he loves us enough to cast out our fears. &nbsp;Y'all it just keeps getting better. &nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. &nbsp;</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>John 14:27</b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, one one of my all time favorites are the promises in John 14:27. &nbsp;The Lord gives us peace, and not just any kind of peace, His peace. &nbsp;With the peace of the Lord on our side, there really isn't an excuse to be&nbsp;afraid.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much promise and so much comfort in these five verses for me. &nbsp;I have found so much peace in the Lord by surrendering my biggest fears to Him. &nbsp;I am by no means perfect, and still struggle daily with my fear of the future. &nbsp;But the promises the Bible gives us about the peace that comes from surrendering our fears to the Lord is so comforting to me. &nbsp;</span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now it is your turn! Link up your post below, but be sure to follow the rules!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Follow Your Hosts:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/frankly-my-dear-11407445?search_term=frankly%20my%20dear%20blog&amp;context=search_page">Jenni</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/seasons-with-strattons-9423889">Martha Kate</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Comment on at Least One Other Post</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Share Your Post with #wednesdayswords on Social Media</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Add our Button to Your Post </span><br /><div align="center" style="padding: 5px;"><img alt="Wednesday's Words" src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/wednesdays-words_zpsencg5gn8.png" title="Wednesday's Words" /></div><pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html" title="Wednesday's Words"><img src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/wednesdays-words_zpsencg5gn8.png" alt="Wednesday's Words" style="border:none;" /></a></div><br /></textarea></pre><!-- start InLinkz script --> <br /><div class="InLinkzContainer" id="499593"><a href="http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=499593" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div><script src="//static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js?v=116" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-82863589298612289622015-02-20T05:00:00.000-06:002015-03-12T15:46:12.445-05:00Learning to Biblically Be Present <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIbfW4gAHDA/VPZWGr1YJcI/AAAAAAAAGkM/MqzM3-y25TU/s1600/Be%2BPresent%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIbfW4gAHDA/VPZWGr1YJcI/AAAAAAAAGkM/MqzM3-y25TU/s1600/Be%2BPresent%2B.png" height="640" title="Learning to Biblically Be Present" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being present in whatever season the Lord has me in is something that has been on my heart as we start another baseball season. &nbsp;It is so easy for me to immediately start dreaming of our next offseason or where we will be when Spring Training ends rather than being present right where the Lord has me. &nbsp;One of my favorite quotes from Jim Elliot is about being present, but I also wanted to dive deeper into what scripture says about being present in our current seasons.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4CRR6hkwVbU/VPZWQ-v3byI/AAAAAAAAGkU/pHl2QXYAo48/s1600/Jim%2BElliot%2BQuote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4CRR6hkwVbU/VPZWQ-v3byI/AAAAAAAAGkU/pHl2QXYAo48/s1600/Jim%2BElliot%2BQuote.png" height="640" width="434" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After looking up scriptures, I divided up the ways to be present biblically into five ways....</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ways to Biblically Be Present:</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Be Intentional</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Be Present-Minded&nbsp;</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Be Prayerful</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Be Thankful</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Be Peace-Seeking</b></i></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be Intentional&nbsp;</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being intentional is something that I am really focusing on this year. &nbsp;I want to be a good steward of the time the Lord gives me by being intentional rather than letting it slip by. &nbsp;I want a life of less social media and screen time and more coffee dates and Bible studies. &nbsp;I want to strive to be a better wife and friend rather than gain social media followers. &nbsp;I want to make sure my life is being spent in an intentional way for God's kingdom and not for my own gain. &nbsp;Being intentional in how we live for the Lord keeps our focus on His desires in this season rather than letting our mind wander to&nbsp;what tomorrow or the next season has in store.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.&nbsp;</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, MSG</strong></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be Present-Minded</i></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">This one is huge for me. &nbsp;I am a planner at heart, and I'm always looking to the next thing whether it is 2 days or 10 years in the future. &nbsp;I am not one that dwells on the past as much as I dream about the future, but neither are ways worth living. &nbsp;The Lord calls us to focus on today, only on the present. &nbsp;It is takes a&nbsp;conscious effort to train our minds to only think in a present-minded way, but it is Biblical truth that we&nbsp;should only focus on what the Lord has for us today.</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. &nbsp;</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">&nbsp;</span></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. &nbsp;</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Matthew 6:34, NIV</strong></i><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be Prayerful</i></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the area of my spiritual life that I am convicted on more than anything. &nbsp;I'll be honest in that it is much easier for me to go to God in prayer when I need an&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">answer than it is for me to pray when I am thankful, much less&nbsp;continuously. &nbsp;It is also not my first reaction to say a prayer when I am anxious or worrying. &nbsp;It is something that I am constantly working on, and I go through seasons where I am better. &nbsp;For me, it is a lot like being present-minded, it takes an effort to train my heart to go to the Lord in prayer&nbsp;continuously. &nbsp;We are able to attune our heart to be present where the Lord wants us when we pray scripture and pray&nbsp;continuously.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. &nbsp;</span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Philippians 4:6, NIV</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">&nbsp;</span></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. &nbsp;</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV</strong></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be Thankful&nbsp;</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We cannot fully appreciate the season the Lord has us in while constantly wishing to be in the next season. &nbsp;Be thankful for where you are right now. &nbsp;Even if where you are is&nbsp;hard or you are struggling. &nbsp;Something that has helped me to live this out is to keep a gratitude journal. &nbsp;I simply write down a few things I am thankful for each day. &nbsp;They can be big or small, just whatever has given me joy that day. &nbsp;It is so humbling to read my list each day and see all the ways the Lord has given me grace each day. &nbsp;A daily expression of our thankfulness gives us a humble perspective of why the Lord has us in this season of life.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. &nbsp;</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">&nbsp;</span></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be Peace-Seeking&nbsp;</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">I want to live a life that reflects Colossians 3:12-14. &nbsp;Easier said than done, right? It takes being present right where the Lord has us to be able to live Colossians 3:12-14. &nbsp;It is hard to be compassionate and patient when we are only looking to the future and wishing for the next season of our lives. &nbsp;Striving to find peace in the most hectic areas of life can be so hard, but it is one of the best things we can do for our spiritual life. &nbsp;I&nbsp;love the command the end of this&nbsp;verse, "And above all these <i>put on love</i>". &nbsp;Can we strive to daily "put on love" and live in the present?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. &nbsp;</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Colossians 3:12-14, ESV</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">&nbsp;</span></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">What does living in the present look like for you? Is it taking breaks from social media to spend time with people face-to-face? Or learning to pray&nbsp;continuously and not worry about tomorrow? Whatever it looks like for you, I urge you to find out a way to live life in the today so that you don't miss out on what the Lord has in store for the exact season He has you in right now.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;">&lt;a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13086033/?claim=822drump5ds"&gt;Follow my blog with Bloglovin&lt;/a&gt;</span>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-11158590567662797512015-02-18T11:24:00.000-06:002015-02-18T11:24:01.405-06:00Choosing Romans 15:13 // Wednesday's Words <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GR7vq4UvRqM/VOTHiq76xOI/AAAAAAAAGgo/ih_yi6IMKgc/s1600/Romans%2B1513.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GR7vq4UvRqM/VOTHiq76xOI/AAAAAAAAGgo/ih_yi6IMKgc/s1600/Romans%2B1513.png" height="640" title="Romans 15:13 " width="426" /></a></div><br />Well friends, baseball season is officially here. &nbsp;Chris and I made it to Arizona yesterday afternoon after somehow getting to the airport with completely frozen roads at 4:00 AM, a minor scare once at the airport when I thought I left my driver's license in the hotel room, and a slight jog to catch our connecting flight in Chicago... we made it. &nbsp;Only to realize that the team forgot to book us a hotel which happened to be sold out and me accidentally dropping my phone completely shattering it which led to a trip to the AT&amp;T store and a new phone. &nbsp;After a few calls, our relator got us in to our condo a night early and we were both asleep before 9:00. <br /><br />But we are here, and baseball season starts this afternoon and I'm determined to have a good attitude. The start of baseball seasons are always hard for me. &nbsp;I am a home body who misses my family and our house. &nbsp;It also doesn't help that our pups had to sit Spring Training out. &nbsp;And now that we are going into our third baseball season, the excitement of our new adventure has worn off. &nbsp;So that is why Romans 15:13 is my verse of this season. &nbsp;I am determined to be joyful and intentional this season. <br /><br />My word for 2015 is <i>intentional</i>. &nbsp;And I don't get an excuse during baseball season. &nbsp;So here is to a season full of joy, being intentional, and trusting in the Lord.<br /><br />In Wednesday's Words news, be sure to join us next Wednesday for our linkup! The topic is "Surrendering our Fears" and you are welcome to use this picture in your post if you want to!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RC2VMOnSgg8/VOTJut57kGI/AAAAAAAAGg0/EAytpMB7vSw/s1600/Surrendering%2Bour%2BFears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RC2VMOnSgg8/VOTJut57kGI/AAAAAAAAGg0/EAytpMB7vSw/s1600/Surrendering%2Bour%2BFears.png" height="402" width="640" /></a></div><br />I can't wait to see what the Lord has on your heart about surrounding your fears, because it has something that has been heavy on my heart recently. &nbsp;Be sure to link up your posts next week and share using #wednesdayswords. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.franklymydear-blog.com/">Jenni</a> and I can't wait to have you!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html" title="Wednesday's Words"><img alt="Wednesday's Words" src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/wednesdays-words_zpsencg5gn8.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-42213412053671865912015-02-13T05:00:00.000-06:002015-02-13T05:00:07.568-06:00Baseball Season: Packing Tips + A Checklist <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8mKMVsd428/VN1j8xIifvI/AAAAAAAAGeU/tEm2IlODaPw/s1600/Baseball%2BSeason%2BPacking%2BTips.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8mKMVsd428/VN1j8xIifvI/AAAAAAAAGeU/tEm2IlODaPw/s1600/Baseball%2BSeason%2BPacking%2BTips.png" height="426" title="Baseball Season: Packing Tips + A Checklist" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">This one is for my baseball ladies out there that are starting to pack for the next seven or so months! I realize that since we are only entering our third Spring Training, I am definitely still seen as a rookie to this whole baseball life thing. &nbsp;But, with three years of packing under my belt, I think I've got some tips that could be helpful for some of my first time baseball ladies packing for Spring Training. &nbsp;Now a lot of these tips are going to depend on whether you are in Florida or Arizona for Spring Training, what your living situation is (furnished vs non-furnished), or if you are driving or flying. &nbsp;But there are some general tips that you might find helpful!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">DON'T OVERPACK&nbsp;</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm preaching to the choir here. &nbsp;But really, do you need 15 pairs of shoes for Spring Training? Or for the entire season for that matter? Really try to narrow down what you will actually use daily or weekly. &nbsp;The other stuff can stay at home or in storage. &nbsp;Really you can live without a lot less than you think.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><i>CAPSULE WARDROBE MENTALITY</i><br />If you are familiar with capsule wardrobes, this is the best way to think about your outfits for Spring Training or the season. &nbsp;Think of it this way: pack as few items as possible that make as many outfits as possible. Plan outfits that have pieces that can be interchangeable with different outfits. &nbsp;I like picking my favorite pairs of jeans/shorts and go from there. &nbsp;A couple cute shirts with each bottom should get you through! And to make it even easier, go ahead and put the shoes and accessories that go with each outfit.<br /><br /><i>PRIORITY LISTS</i><br />I personally like to divide my lists into two sections: Must Have and Luxury. &nbsp;Obviously the must haves get packed firsts, and then things off the luxury list get added if there is room. &nbsp;For instance, my coffee maker is on my luxury list because I never know if I will like the one in our furnished rental. &nbsp;However, if it doesn't fit in the suitcase, it is cheaper for me just to go get Starbucks every once in a while than to ship my coffee maker across the country for Spring Training.<br /><br />Like I said, this packing list will be different depending on your situation. &nbsp;I drove to Spring Training our first two years, but I am flying this year. &nbsp;The years I drove I had everything packed for the season &nbsp;when I left. &nbsp;Thankfully, most of our minor league teams have similar climates, but I always packed a few bags I could ship home that were climate specific. &nbsp;I'll divide my list into what I pack when we fly just for Spring Training and what I pack for the whole season. &nbsp;We pretty much always rent furnished, but bring our own linens and housewares. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-930hXG0MOHg/VN1gXkm9ghI/AAAAAAAAGeA/S-ysSS8FbiE/s1600/Spring%2BTraining%2BPacking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-930hXG0MOHg/VN1gXkm9ghI/AAAAAAAAGeA/S-ysSS8FbiE/s1600/Spring%2BTraining%2BPacking.png" height="640" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVGanOGTXH8/VN1gdNB8P0I/AAAAAAAAGeI/N2F-MXmb6MQ/s1600/Baseball%2BSeason%2BPacking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVGanOGTXH8/VN1gdNB8P0I/AAAAAAAAGeI/N2F-MXmb6MQ/s1600/Baseball%2BSeason%2BPacking.png" height="640" width="516" /></a></div><br /><br />A few clarifications...<br /><br />-As far as "kitchen supplies" go, I have a box that only gets pulled out right before baseball season with kitchen items that I know I'll need. &nbsp;It just eliminates going through and having to decide from what I use at home what I need to pack. &nbsp;It is just easier for me to keep it separate. &nbsp;For example, in our baseball season kitchen box I keep four plate, four bowls, and four plastic cups from Chris' Low A team that we use during the season. &nbsp;I also have a cutting board, 3 pots, measuring cups, one sharp knife, and a colander. &nbsp;I gathered all this in our first season just by buying things as I needed them to make a recipe. &nbsp;This way I didn't end up with things I don't use, and now I've gotten to the point if I can't make it with what I have it just doesn't get cooked.<br /><br />-Packing a separate toiletry bag for road trips really has made a difference. &nbsp;It doesn't make me feel like I'm constantly packing and unpacking. &nbsp;I just keep notes of what is running low and make sure they get refilled before the next road trip. &nbsp;I leave it in my duffel bag that I use for road trips so all I have to throw in is the outfits I want to take and my makeup bag.<br /><br />-Another tip I learned that can really be beneficial is to pack boxes that are ready to ship before you leave based on the climates of the teams you could end up with. &nbsp;Then a friend or family member can ship you your cold or hot weather clothes depending on where your husband is assigned at the end of Spring Training.<br /><br />I know this post is all over the place, but so is baseball life. &nbsp;There are so many situations that play into what to pack or how long you need to pack for. &nbsp;But these general lists have made packing easier for me. &nbsp;Let me know if you have any questions or have any other tips to add!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-52160962917950673592015-02-11T12:23:00.000-06:002015-02-11T12:24:28.377-06:00I'm Overwhelmed by You<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>"God, I run into Your arms unashamed because of mercy. &nbsp;I'm overwhelmed, I'm&nbsp;overwhelmed by You." -Big Daddy Weave</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENF7jahEUaY/VNtyiwMIJqI/AAAAAAAAGdM/ZHtwjLn2CfU/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENF7jahEUaY/VNtyiwMIJqI/AAAAAAAAGdM/ZHtwjLn2CfU/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">I started this week feeling really overwhelmed and anxious. &nbsp;We start our&nbsp;third baseball season next week. &nbsp;Bags need to be packed, our house needs to cleaned and projects finished, and the end of the offseason to do-list is an added weight. &nbsp;The week started out a little hectic.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">As I started to let stress creep in the song Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave came on as I was packing. &nbsp;I love when God puts songs in my path at the exact time I need them. &nbsp;My heart was gently reminded&nbsp;that the only thing that I need to be overwhelmed by is the greatness of our God. &nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">So in this season of chaos right before baseball season, I am striving to enjoy our lasts few days at home. &nbsp;To not worry about if I have everything packed or where we will live after Spring Training. &nbsp;I'm praying to realize that our God's greatness is the only thing that I should be joyfully overwhelmed by. &nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html" title="Wednesday's Words"><img alt="Wednesday's Words" src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/wednesdays-words_zpsencg5gn8.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. Welcome to the new look for Seasons with the Strattons thanks to <a href="http://www.ohsimplethoughts.com/">Rachel</a>!&nbsp;</div></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-47566201914390691912015-02-04T05:00:00.000-06:002015-02-04T05:00:00.880-06:00Do Not Fear <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FdZ9a96VUQ/VNF2R7GBC1I/AAAAAAAAGc0/wPvSFrraQY8/s1600/Isaiah%2B4113.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FdZ9a96VUQ/VNF2R7GBC1I/AAAAAAAAGc0/wPvSFrraQY8/s1600/Isaiah%2B4113.png" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br />Fear is something I struggle with. &nbsp;Not the kind of fear that makes you afraid of heights or spiders... But the kind of fear that makes you afraid of the unknown or infertility or the future. &nbsp;I fear some big things, but my fears are not bigger than our God.<br /><br />That is why I love the picture that Isaiah 41:13 paints of God holding my hand and walking me through my fears. &nbsp;The Lord is able to help me through each fear by walking with me and holding my hand. &nbsp;That is a whole new level of comforting. <br /><br />So as I start to sense fear creeping, I have to stop and remember that the Lord is holding my hand. &nbsp;He is <i>always </i>there, I just have to acknowledge it and believe He is. &nbsp;And that, friends, is how I make it through this crazy thing called life. <br /><br />It isn't always easy to hear that nudging that says "Do not fear, I am with you", but when I can sit quiet in my fear rather than automatically letting it overtake my thoughts I am more likely to realize the Lord is there. <br /><br />So today, I urge you to look to the Lord in your fear. &nbsp;Not your human nature that tells you it is okay to fear. <br /><br />This isn't a linkup week for <a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html">Wednesday's Words</a>, but we would love for you to share our brand new button (Thanks <a href="http://wetherillssayido.com/">Madison</a>) if you shared a faith post today. &nbsp;And we would love it even more if you joined us for our next linkup February 25!<br /><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center" style="padding: 5px;"><img alt="Wednesday's Words" src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/wednesdays-words_zpsencg5gn8.png" title="Wednesday's Words" /></div><pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html" title="Wednesday's Words"><img src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/wednesdays-words_zpsencg5gn8.png" alt="Wednesday's Words" style="border:none;" /></a></div><br /></textarea></pre>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-57912417992769652402015-01-28T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-28T05:00:06.095-06:00Living on Purpose // Wednesday's Words <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1FS-TfdMGI/VMa0fz4qIwI/AAAAAAAAGb8/GRC1L8eL5AU/s1600/8ll67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1FS-TfdMGI/VMa0fz4qIwI/AAAAAAAAGb8/GRC1L8eL5AU/s1600/8ll67.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br />Welcome to the first Wednesday's Words linkup of 2015 with <a href="http://www.franklymydear-blog.com/">Jenni</a> and me! We are so excited to read your words and how you are living purposefully in different areas of your life. &nbsp; I love this topic because my&nbsp;<a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/2015/01/when-words-are-hard-my-2015-word.html">word for 2015</a>&nbsp;is&nbsp;<i>intentional. &nbsp;</i>I'm striving to be intentional is the everyday, daily parts of life. &nbsp;I want to live a life that is purposeful for the Lord; not to meet my own needs but the needs of others. <br /><br />There are so many areas in my life where see places that I could strive to be more purposeful, but I have narrowed it down to my five that I want to focus on in 2015. &nbsp;Some areas just require simple changes like switching TV for Reading, while others are a complete lifestyle change. &nbsp;I want to be the best steward of the time the Lord gives me as possible. &nbsp;Here are the ways I've come up with to do that best!<br /><br /><i><b>QUIET TIME</b></i><br />The time I spend with the Lord each day is something I am trying to be very intentional about in 2015. &nbsp;I'm striving to spend more time journalling, praying, and just spending time in the word. &nbsp;It is amazing the difference in my days when I spend time with the Lord than the days when my to-do list gets in the way. <br /><br /><i><b>SCRIPTURE</b></i><br />One of my goals in 2015 is to read the entire Bible. &nbsp;The She Reads Truth app is making that so easy thanks to the 365 Days of Truth study. &nbsp;I want to be intentional in knowing God's word and the best way for me to do that is read it daily! I want to be purposeful in my scripture reading and memorization.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RfohW5rJQGk/VMhm9h-ujvI/AAAAAAAAGcU/FJGDR0pzBSg/s1600/Luke%2B1610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RfohW5rJQGk/VMhm9h-ujvI/AAAAAAAAGcU/FJGDR0pzBSg/s1600/Luke%2B1610.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div><i><b><br /></b></i><i><b>BLOG</b></i><br />I want to blog about things with purpose. &nbsp;Sure, there is a time for recipe posts and posts that catch up on life, but I want to make sure this online space has a purpose that is bigger than my enjoyment that comes from blogging. &nbsp;I want this space to be a place of encouragement and full of truth.<br /><br /><b><i>HEALTH</i></b><br />This is a huge area that I want to be purposeful in this year. &nbsp;God gave me a body to use for His glory, and that body works a lot better when I am exercising and eating healthy. More on this to come, but I really want to strive to live a healthy lifestyle so that my body is ready to serve in whatever way I am needed.<br /><br /><b><i>TIME</i></b><br />Probably my biggest area of improvement, is I want to be purposeful with my time. &nbsp;I don't want to waste away days watching mindless TV (cough cough baseball season) when I could be doing something purposeful for the glory of God. &nbsp;Even if it just replacing reading the Bible or faith-based books instead of watching Netflix, that is a change towards purposeful. &nbsp;My goal is to be aware of every minute the Lord has given me, and to look for ways to use my time to honor Him best. &nbsp;Reading The Best Yes has really opened my eyes to how important our schedules are to the Lord.<br /><br />What areas of life are you seeking to be more purposeful in? I know for me, it is so easy to get caught up in the motions of just living rather than living on purpose. &nbsp;For me, it has taken learning that it takes effort to live on purpose. &nbsp;It is much easier to go through the motions and watch Netflix. &nbsp;It takes effort to be purposeful, but that effort is what makes life well lived. &nbsp;I would be shocked for any one of you to tell me that you would rather live a life without purpose than a life with purpose. &nbsp;It is hardwired into our brains to serve some type of purpose. &nbsp;I mean that is why the Lord put us on the Earth and all. &nbsp;So let's strive together to live life on purpose rather than just life!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yh9DaGn7caU/VMhpXfOWDBI/AAAAAAAAGcg/QpzHeza0Apo/s1600/Isaiah%2B263.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yh9DaGn7caU/VMhpXfOWDBI/AAAAAAAAGcg/QpzHeza0Apo/s1600/Isaiah%2B263.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Now it is your turn! Link up your post below, but be sure to follow the rules!<br />1. Follow Your Hosts: <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/frankly-my-dear-11407445?search_term=frankly%20my%20dear%20blog&amp;context=search_page">Jenni</a> and <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/seasons-with-strattons-9423889">Martha Kate</a><br />2. Comment on at Least One Other Post<br />3. Share Your Post with #wednesdayswords on Social Media<br />4. Add our Button to Your Post<br /><div align="center" style="padding: 5px;"><img alt="Wednesday's Words" src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/WednesdaysWords150x150button_zps991a7c7f.jpg" title="Wednesday's Words" /></div><pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.marthakatestratton.blogspot.com" title="Wednesday's Words"><img src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/WednesdaysWords150x150button_zps991a7c7f.jpg" alt="Wednesday's Words" style="border:none;" /></a></div><br /></textarea></pre><br /><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <br /><div class="InLinkzContainer" id="490142"><a href="http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=490142" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div><script src="//static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js?v=116" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-8276428196299356162015-01-23T16:47:00.000-06:002015-01-23T16:47:32.449-06:00Life Lately // Coffee Date <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTs1HfjBI3U/VL2LR5ecoHI/AAAAAAAAGaw/vH48FUcaBko/s1600/Iced%2BCoffee%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTs1HfjBI3U/VL2LR5ecoHI/AAAAAAAAGaw/vH48FUcaBko/s1600/Iced%2BCoffee%2B3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />I just love this Coffee Date linkup that <a href="http://www.dearest-love.com/">Jenna</a> hosts for a chance to catch up on life. &nbsp;These are the posts I'll love looking back on to see where I was at different points in life. &nbsp;One of the many reasons I love blogging!<br /><br />Chris is in Arizona for some pre-Spring Training workouts for three weeks, which leaves me at home bored. &nbsp;Okay, not really bored. &nbsp;I actually have a to-do lists of a billion things to do before we officially leave for the season in the middle of February. &nbsp;Some of which are fun things like finish re-reading all the Harry Potter books which was one of my offseason goals that hasn't been completed. &nbsp;I also really do enjoy getting our home organized and packing for the season. &nbsp;I guess my love for organization is helpful. &nbsp;I plan on posting a very detailed packing list soon in hopes to help out some fellow baseball ladies!<br /><br />This offseason has absolutely flown by. &nbsp;Part of me is getting antsy to be back on the road, travel, and reunite with our baseball friends. &nbsp;The other part just is not ready to leave home. &nbsp;I love our offseason routine. &nbsp;I love getting to pretend to be normal for a few months with regular jobs that don't include dinner at midnight and waking up at lunch. &nbsp;I love being close to family, living in our home, and teaching preschool. &nbsp;But that is why I love professional baseball life so much. &nbsp;We honestly get the best of both worlds. &nbsp;We get to live "normal lives" during the offseason, but also get a season full of adventure, traveling to new places, and new friendships. <br /><br />I started <i>The Best Yes </i>by Lysa TerKeurst this week as part of <a href="http://imperfectvessel.com/">The Imperfect Vessel's</a> Winter Book Study. &nbsp;We had our first Facebook chat last night about the first part of the book and it was so fun to chat with others who are reading the book. &nbsp;The Internet can be pretty awesome and encouraging sometimes!<br /><br />Last weekend we hosted the 11th Grade Girls in our home for a weekend city-wide retreat in our hometown called Disciple Now. &nbsp;Pretty much all of the churches participate, and spend the weekend worshipping and doing different service projects. &nbsp;Spending the weekend with high school girls was so fun for me! Even though I still may or may not be recovering from the lack of sleep. &nbsp;It is so neat to see where they are individually in their faith and remember where I was at their age. &nbsp;Poor Chris got a glimpse of what life is like with teenage girls, ha!<br /><br />So to elaborate on life in our baseball world... We always get asked around this time each year where we will be next season. &nbsp;And all we know as of now is that we will spend middle of February to beginning of April in Arizona for Spring Training. &nbsp;After that, we won't know our next destination until the day before we leave. &nbsp;Yes, it is a bit of a hectic time, but it is also just part of baseball life that we've learned to roll with. &nbsp;We have guesses of where we will be, obviously. &nbsp;But we will not know 100% until the day before Chris gets on an airplane to report to his team. &nbsp;Prayers are always appreciated for my sanity during Spring Training and my desire to speculate things that are impossible to speculate. &nbsp;I will brag on myself and say that I've matured in my baseball wife duties. &nbsp;The thought of finding a place to live with a few days notice isn't nearly as scary as it was going into our first Spring Training. &nbsp;I was miserable and mortified that first year. &nbsp;Going into year three makes this all seem like I have it under control...as much as you can have baseball life under control that is. <br /><br />So all that rambling to say: we will be in Arizona for Spring Training and then who knows! That is the adventure of Minor League Baseball.<br /><br />Thanks for reading my ramblings if you've made it this far. &nbsp;Sometimes it is just fun to ramble about life... Thanks Jenna!<br /><br /><br /><br />Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-4628033073356274802015-01-21T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-21T05:00:07.144-06:00Be Joyful, Patient, & Prayerful // Wednesday's Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn72Yq5ROME/VL779veemBI/AAAAAAAAGbg/K3KZ1bAkE5A/s1600/Romans%2B1212%2Bcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn72Yq5ROME/VL779veemBI/AAAAAAAAGbg/K3KZ1bAkE5A/s1600/Romans%2B1212%2Bcopy.png" height="640" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm pretty sure that I have never had a verse apply to my life as much as Romans 12:12 does right now. &nbsp;It has become the words that I'm having to mutter to myself daily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Be Joyful, Patient, AND Prayerful.</i> &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The hardest of these three for me is definitely patience, which is no surprise if you've been around here at all. &nbsp;The biggest lesson that I feel like the Lord is trying to teach me daily is my struggle with patience in His plan. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And not only is Romans 12:12 asking me to be patient, but to be patient in affliction. &nbsp;Do you ever feel like the Lord is asking the impossible? Sometimes that is how I feel when I am telling myself to be patient in affliction. &nbsp;I feel like there is absolutely no way. &nbsp;But that is where being faithful in prayer is so important.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My patience is so much better when I'm being faithful in my prayer life. &nbsp;When I'm making an effort in my relationship with the Lord by being in constant communication, the difference in my heart is unbelievable. &nbsp;When I am honest with the Lord with my struggle with impatience, He calms my heart. &nbsp;When I get discouraged because what I had planned (and honestly felt like the Lord had planned) isn't happening in the timeline I expected, there is a huge difference when I respond in prayer than when I respond in frustrated tears.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What Bible verses has the Lord used to speak to your heart personally?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html">Wednesday's Words</a> is not a linkup this week (we are only linking up the last Wednesday of each month), but be sure to add our button to your post if you shared a Bible verse and tag us on social media by using #wednesdayswords! And be sure to join us next Wednesday by sharing how you are trying to be purposeful in different areas of life to start off 2015!&nbsp;</div><br /><div align="center" style="padding: 5px;"><img alt="Wednesday's Words" src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/WednesdaysWords150x150button_zps991a7c7f.jpg" title="Wednesday's Words" /></div><pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.marthakatestratton.blogspot.com" title="Wednesday's Words"><img src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/Marthakate09/WednesdaysWords150x150button_zps991a7c7f.jpg" alt="Wednesday's Words" style="border:none;" /></a></div><br /></textarea></pre>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-55336348629069682512015-01-19T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-19T05:00:02.606-06:00When life gives you lemons... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crBA9__6O8U/VLxjJu9U7eI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/wDKCmxXF9_s/s1600/When%2Blife%2Bgives%2Byou%2Blemons....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crBA9__6O8U/VLxjJu9U7eI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/wDKCmxXF9_s/s1600/When%2Blife%2Bgives%2Byou%2Blemons....jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div><br />You know those days when you are just in a funk? When it seems like you can't catch a break and frustration starts to set in? I'm starting realize that I have so much control on my attitude during these kind of days. &nbsp;A few simple solutions can actually help me avoid the funk altogether on those days. So I came up with a list of ways to turn the lemons into lemonade!<br /><br />Attitude of Gratitude // When I stop and write down the small blessings in the otherwise "funky" days, it is the fastest way to bring me back to reality of my ungrateful heart. &nbsp;The Lord's grace is so sweet y'all! &nbsp;When I'm stuck on focusing on myself and forget all that He has provided, He still loves me. <br /><br />Pray Through // I'm going to be honest and say that prayer is not my first reaction when I'm frustrated. &nbsp;But when I can stop myself in the frustration and talk it through with the Lord, my attitude changes. &nbsp;It is like an automatic calming mechanism. <br /><br />Take a Breath // Whether this is taking a short cat nap, reading a book, or drinking a cup of coffee. &nbsp;Sometimes just doing something you enjoy for a few minutes can change your outlook on the day. &nbsp;To-do lists <i>can </i>go on hold, despite what I like to tell myself.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WCm-pjcAAW4/VLxmHMI4FqI/AAAAAAAAGWk/PP10lNK5HXQ/s1600/lemons%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WCm-pjcAAW4/VLxmHMI4FqI/AAAAAAAAGWk/PP10lNK5HXQ/s1600/lemons%2B.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So how do you turn days that give you lemons into lemonade? You want to know something ironic? I actually prefer eating lemons over drinking lemonade...but for sake of analogy I went with it!&nbsp;</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-59558929221578186402015-01-16T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-18T20:18:42.447-06:00When is enough, enough?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YpiSGJjwHpI/VLbQZay0EyI/AAAAAAAAGVc/w2-nh1x7T7w/s1600/When%2Bis%2Benough%2C%2Benough%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="www.seasonswiththestrattons.com" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YpiSGJjwHpI/VLbQZay0EyI/AAAAAAAAGVc/w2-nh1x7T7w/s1600/When%2Bis%2Benough%2C%2Benough%2B.jpg" height="640" title="When is enough, enough?" width="392" /></a></div><br />Lately, my heart has been needing simplification. &nbsp;I keep coming back to the question, "When is enough, enough?"<br /><br />Can you answer these questions:<br />How much of a raise do you need for it to be enough?<br />How many obligations before there is enough?<br />How many blog followers, Facebook friends, or Instagram likes are enough?<br />How many clothes before you have enough?<br /><br />My biggest question is when does it ever end when we constantly want more or want to reach the next milestone? What happens if there is never an end? If life is a never-ending to-do list made to meet one goal just to make more goals to meet.<br /><br />If this is the what our lives look like, how do we know when we have enough? What is our measure?<br />Is it when we have our basic needs met?<br />Or when we have just enough in case of emergency?<br />Or when we think we are financially set?<br /><br />I don't know about you, but I think there is so much more to life than a constant to-do list. &nbsp;I want a life that is full of the simple joys. &nbsp;I don't want to get so wrapped up in what I don't have that I completely miss opportunities to serve Jesus. &nbsp;I want to attune my heart to see what The Lord wants me to see each day; what needs He wants me to meet. &nbsp;I don't want to be so focused on my to-do list that I miss my daily purpose. &nbsp;I don't want to live a life full of "I need more to have enough," but a life full of "<i>Jesus is enough</i>".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But he said to me, "My grace is <b><i>enough</i></b> for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Corinthians 12:9</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">So all these questions have led me to one conclusion, my life needs more Jesus and less stuff. &nbsp;His perfect grace is all I really need, and all this other stuff is extra. &nbsp;My prayer is that I realize I already have enough, so that my heart does not focus on the stuff, but Jesus. &nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, help me never to tell a lie.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="text Prov-30-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="text Prov-30-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the&nbsp;</span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">?”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="text Prov-30-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs 30:8-9</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This verse really hit me when I was praying through my need for more. &nbsp;I want to be able to pray that God only gives me enough to satisfy my needs. &nbsp;I want my heart's desire to be Proverbs 30:8-9 even though that is the exact opposite of my natural desire. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I'm also not saying that I am about to giveaway all my belongings. &nbsp;I am just saying that my heart needed refocusing. &nbsp;I needed to remember that what I have isn't&nbsp;what matters, that there is such a bigger purpose in life than a pretty house and a cute closet. &nbsp;</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DbfDuwLR6rk/VLbjy4UDlJI/AAAAAAAAGV8/cTjhzVsButE/s1600/Mother%2BTeresa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DbfDuwLR6rk/VLbjy4UDlJI/AAAAAAAAGV8/cTjhzVsButE/s1600/Mother%2BTeresa.png" height="236" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">So what does enough look like for you? How can we help each other move from what society&nbsp;defines as enough to&nbsp;what Jesus defines as enough? How can we live simply?&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-38221721863326862552015-01-14T13:19:00.002-06:002015-01-14T13:19:50.887-06:00Wednesday's Words in 2015<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large;"></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white;">Hey sweet friends! Just wanted to drop in and give you an update on Wednesday's Words!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtDva_ZRAJQ/VLbBPXh7s-I/AAAAAAAAGVM/KZM4VM5-GCM/s1600/Wednesday's%2BWords.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtDva_ZRAJQ/VLbBPXh7s-I/AAAAAAAAGVM/KZM4VM5-GCM/s1600/Wednesday's%2BWords.png" height="236" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.franklymydear-blog.com/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23px;">Jenni</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 23px;"> and I have really been praying and talking about where we want to see </span></span><a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/p/wednesdays-words.html" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23px;">Wednesday's Words</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 23px;"> go in 2015. &nbsp;What we have come up with so far is that we both feel very strongly about sharing God's word on our blogs once a week, so with that we know we want to continue posting encouraging Bible verses each Wednesday and we would love for you to join us! We also decided that a weekly linkup is a lot for anybody to do (shoutout to&nbsp;</span></span><span style="line-height: 23px;">y'all</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;that can pull it off), so we will only&nbsp;</span></span><span style="line-height: 23px;">host an actual linkup on the last Wednesday of each month and these posts will have a general topic that we will post on the Wednesday's Words page! The other Wednesdays of the month, we&nbsp;would love for you to join our effort to share God's word by including the button in your post! We are working on a new button design and will have that to you as soon as possible. &nbsp;For now, we wanted to share the verse that is really directing our vision for Wednesday's Words in 2015!</span><br /><span style="line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23px;">Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23px;">Hebrews 10:25</span><br /><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We would love to have you join us on the last Wednesday of January by writing a post on Living on Purpose! We want to read how you are being intentional in different areas of life. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nef0s-BUgWBbD-dw6wyN3X275cnJPdoiI2eG4CDQ1CM/viewform?usp=send_form">Google Doc</a>&nbsp;if you want to receive emails regarding Wednesday's Words!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you so much for being a part of our movement to&nbsp;</span>encourage<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;each other weekly by sharing God's word! I can't wait to see the community that comes from Wednesday's Words!</span>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-69223344565310380692015-01-13T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-13T05:00:05.002-06:00Starting the New Year Fresh: Clean Slate Cookbook Review Chris and I have tried to start the new year out eating healthy. &nbsp;We always try to get back on track after the holidays, especially with Spring Training quickly approaching. &nbsp;We have to get that pitcher of mine ready for a long season and starting the year off with clean foods is the best way I know how. &nbsp;Now we aren't perfect, the craving for Mexican food and cheese dip hits me often, but we are trying our best! Nobody is perfect, right?<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xLYR8JhZRc/VLGXmHS5QKI/AAAAAAAAGT0/WNhsdABmlYE/s1600/Starting%2BFresh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xLYR8JhZRc/VLGXmHS5QKI/AAAAAAAAGT0/WNhsdABmlYE/s1600/Starting%2BFresh.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So in our effort to eat fresh, I was so excited to get my latest cookbook from Blogging for Books, <i>Clean Slate</i>. &nbsp;It is a cookbook full of clean recipes that look absolutely delicious! It also is full of great tips on what foods to buy, nutritional information, and general clean eating guidelines!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5D5Yfkd8x8/VLGYxNFqh6I/AAAAAAAAGUA/xphGq7LBau8/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5D5Yfkd8x8/VLGYxNFqh6I/AAAAAAAAGUA/xphGq7LBau8/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B.jpg" height="640" width="392" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my favorite sections in <i>Clean Slate </i>is the breakfast section. &nbsp;I can't wait to try the recipe for whole-wheat waffles with sliced strawberries and yogurt one morning! I also love that there is a section called "reboot" that is all about juicing. &nbsp;Juicing is one of my favorite ways to get back on track and incorporate vegetables that I wouldn't normally eat. &nbsp;I am always looking for new juice recipes, and <i>&nbsp;Clean Slate </i>has some great juices for detoxifying! I love that they include the nutritional information for each juice for when I am counting calories.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BC3pZ6nOBpM/VLGZsl6wPkI/AAAAAAAAGUI/Ebrol0nNkRc/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BC3pZ6nOBpM/VLGZsl6wPkI/AAAAAAAAGUI/Ebrol0nNkRc/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the main reasons I love this cookbook s that the recipes aren't boring. &nbsp;I can only cooked baked chicken and stir fried vegetables so much before I get completely bored. &nbsp;I love recipes that have fun ingredients and that challenge me in the kitchen. &nbsp;It keeps me occupied and interested. &nbsp;<i>Clean Slate </i>meets those needs with healthy recipes that are full of flavor and ingredients to keep me interested. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Ic4rNF80M/VLGaOK02XkI/AAAAAAAAGUQ/RGqYoqAcn_4/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Ic4rNF80M/VLGaOK02XkI/AAAAAAAAGUQ/RGqYoqAcn_4/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B5.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And to top it all off, this cookbook has beautiful pictures. &nbsp;Which as crazy as it sounds is a must for me when it comes to cookbooks. &nbsp;I know it should be all about the recipes, but I love a pretty cookbook that has pretty pictures. &nbsp;I guess I'm just a child at heart and love picture books!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LjzG978R3Ps/VLGatQrYOQI/AAAAAAAAGUY/9nr3UMFNJIA/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LjzG978R3Ps/VLGatQrYOQI/AAAAAAAAGUY/9nr3UMFNJIA/s1600/Clean%2BSlate%2B4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Brandon Text', sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">I received this book from the</span><a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.com/" rel="" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a6bb; font-family: 'Brandon Text', sans-serif; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="">&nbsp;Blogging for Books</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Brandon Text', sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">&nbsp;program in exchange for this review. &nbsp;All opinions and&nbsp;photos are my own.</span></span></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-51399132428337379882015-01-12T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-12T05:00:10.309-06:00When Words are Hard + My 2015 Word Well hello there blog world...<br /><br />After a little break with a few scattered post here and there, I'm actually excited to write again. &nbsp;A combination of my desire to balance being present in real life and my heart stirring with things that I just wasn't ready to share made a break good!<br /><br />But I think I'm ready... But ready in a different way.<br /><br />I'm ready to share when I want to share. &nbsp;And I'm ready to share what is on my heart. &nbsp;I want to take an approach to this little online corner of mine of vulnerability and of purpose. &nbsp;I love this space because I can be creative and it gives me some form of structure during baseball season when I crave routine. &nbsp;But I want this space to be an encouraging place, a place that shares truth and hope and not so many "filler" posts. &nbsp;So that is my goal for Seasons with the Strattons in 2015. &nbsp;Sure, I will still share recipes and cookbook reviews, but my prayer is that I can be open and honest in hopes to encourage others.<br /><br />One of my goals this year is to write everyday. &nbsp;Just write something...whether it is a prayer, thoughts on life in general, or whatever the Lord has laid on my heart that day. &nbsp;I'm praying that these journals will be full of encouraging thoughts that I can share with you after polishing them from the chicken scratch that comes from my heart. &nbsp;I've started a list of topics I want to write about, and I can't wait to see how the Lord uses those topics.<br /><br />I've also been giving a lot of thought to my one word for 2015. &nbsp;The word that I want to spend the year focusing on and praying over, and that word is <i>intentional</i>. &nbsp;I want to live an intentional year full of investing in others and loving the ability to meet their needs. &nbsp;I want to live for others and not for myself this year. &nbsp;I want to have more of a purpose than sitting on the couch watching Netflix to pass the days during baseball season. &nbsp;I want to find a purpose when I don't feel like I really have one, because the Lord has a purpose for each season of life. &nbsp;More on this to come, but this year I want to be intentional!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--GRYGHeuB6Y/VLLg0sYgkPI/AAAAAAAAGUw/x0GNvOdnFcQ/s1600/Intentional.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--GRYGHeuB6Y/VLLg0sYgkPI/AAAAAAAAGUw/x0GNvOdnFcQ/s1600/Intentional.png" height="154" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-86034003235337934982015-01-01T05:00:00.000-06:002015-01-01T05:00:03.155-06:00Goals for 2015It is so hard for me to believe that it is 2015. &nbsp;Chris and I will celebrate 2 years of marriage on the 5th, which in itself is hard to wrap my brain around. &nbsp;We will start our third baseball season married in February. &nbsp;I have a feeling that 2015 will be our favorite year yet!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8D1AwLDa1g/VKRur55YCWI/AAAAAAAAGSk/m4sA7sFXxrE/s1600/2015%2Bgoals%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8D1AwLDa1g/VKRur55YCWI/AAAAAAAAGSk/m4sA7sFXxrE/s1600/2015%2Bgoals%2B.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">G R O W&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-learn to do something new</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-grow Seasons with the Strattons</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-learn more about my camera</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-follow all She Reads Truth studies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-make up a baking recipe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Wednesday's Words Linkup</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P E R S O N A L</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-take a vacation with Chris</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-got to The Increase Conference in Atlanta</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-complete a reading challenge&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-do a blog series</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">B A S E B A L L</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-pack lighter/learn to live with less</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-workout consistently during season</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-cook more</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-find a church&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-plug in to the community regardless of how long it will be for&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-do a Bible study with other baseball wives and girlfriends&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-invest in others&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-53887407017999172602014-12-31T15:15:00.002-06:002014-12-31T15:15:59.746-06:00Our 2014 in Pictures <div>Warning: This is a really long post with lots of pictures (some good and some straight from the iPhone). <br /><br />2014 was another adventurous year for the Strattons. &nbsp;We moved four times, lived in four different states, and put another 20,000 miles on my car. &nbsp;I drove from Mississippi to Arizona, Arizona to California, California to Virginia, and finally New York to Mississippi. &nbsp;We spent five months without our dogs, and there were tears over it. &nbsp;Then we lived two months in a hotel with both dogs, and there were tears over that too. &nbsp;Chris got an awesome late season promotion to Double A. &nbsp;He pitched one of his best games of the season in the game that clinched the Flying Squirrels playoff spot. &nbsp;We traveled to fun (and some not so fun...thanks California League) places, made new friends and deepened friendships, and made more memories than some do in a lifetime. &nbsp;Here is the month by month summary of our 2014!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>J A N U A R Y<br />We started January off right by celebration our one year wedding anniversary in Disney World with my family. &nbsp;Chris went to January Camp in Scottsdale for strength and conditioning for the rest of January.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0-MSLGJoo8/VKRgLQ9ttzI/AAAAAAAAGQQ/F2uop5UVj8A/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0-MSLGJoo8/VKRgLQ9ttzI/AAAAAAAAGQQ/F2uop5UVj8A/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>F E B R U A R Y&nbsp;</div><div>We celebrated my 21st birthday. &nbsp;And at the end of the month we packed up to head to Spring Training for our second baseball season. &nbsp;I drove from Mississippi to Arizona.&nbsp;</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ng3YLGvxC3w/VKRg2s02lVI/AAAAAAAAGQc/j3416Hb_1tc/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ng3YLGvxC3w/VKRg2s02lVI/AAAAAAAAGQc/j3416Hb_1tc/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>M A R C H&nbsp;</div><div>We spent the month in Scottsdale for Spring Training and found out we would start the season in San Jose, California in High A. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgjkqqB63H8/VKRg3pnBaxI/AAAAAAAAGQw/akKrXFSVwG0/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgjkqqB63H8/VKRg3pnBaxI/AAAAAAAAGQw/akKrXFSVwG0/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A P R I L&nbsp;</div><div>We moved to California to start Chris' second full Minor League Season, and met our wonderful host family! I traveled to San Diego for Nick and Victoria's Gender Reveal Party because Chris was only playing a few hours away. <br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQehW6ok7E0/VKRg32hGLII/AAAAAAAAGQs/UK2wEVDT3Rk/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQehW6ok7E0/VKRg32hGLII/AAAAAAAAGQs/UK2wEVDT3Rk/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>M A Y<br />A three week trip home for my sister's graduation and some much needed Mississippi time that reunited me with my pups!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vi4ruVICXAs/VKRhmeYPgJI/AAAAAAAAGRk/9oFYbxhP2D4/s1600/Sisters%2Bat%2BGraduation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vi4ruVICXAs/VKRhmeYPgJI/AAAAAAAAGRk/9oFYbxhP2D4/s1600/Sisters%2Bat%2BGraduation.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div>J U N E&nbsp;</div><div>We spent our All Star Break on a short vacation to Monterey Bay and Carmel, and then took a day trip to San Francisco on an off day. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGhfvT_py9E/VKRGdJk9KaI/AAAAAAAAGOk/ba8FDPIhS68/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGhfvT_py9E/VKRGdJk9KaI/AAAAAAAAGOk/ba8FDPIhS68/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>J U L Y</div><div>Chris got promoted to Double A in Richmond, Virginia. &nbsp;So I packed up and got on the road less than 12 hours after he got to call and drove from California to Virginia. &nbsp;I stopped in Mississippi on the way to pick up our dogs to reunite them with Chris for the first time since February.&nbsp;</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-01FjgsOV44E/VKRIai2xWKI/AAAAAAAAGOw/Pl4lf4chBas/s1600/CA%2Bto%2BVA%2BMove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-01FjgsOV44E/VKRIai2xWKI/AAAAAAAAGOw/Pl4lf4chBas/s1600/CA%2Bto%2BVA%2BMove.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>A U G U S T<br />We adjusted to life in Richmond and living in an extended stay hotel. &nbsp;We celebrated Chris' 24th birthday with Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Cake in the hotel.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAFh6MiHdFQ/VKRia6ShIjI/AAAAAAAAGR0/soKKywgn0Dg/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAFh6MiHdFQ/VKRia6ShIjI/AAAAAAAAGR0/soKKywgn0Dg/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>S E P T E M B E R&nbsp;</div><div>The Flying Squirrels made a big playoff run. &nbsp;We moved back to Mississippi for the offseason, and I started back work at FUMC Preschool.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyL3IxlDF9M/VKRf5TYeH7I/AAAAAAAAGQI/ITtu4Mkg8OY/s1600/photo%2B2-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyL3IxlDF9M/VKRf5TYeH7I/AAAAAAAAGQI/ITtu4Mkg8OY/s1600/photo%2B2-1.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>O C T O B E R</div><div>Chris and I took a impromptu beach trip to Gulf Shores for a much needed vacation after the season.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBGLp5mROyc/VKRkZCagrkI/AAAAAAAAGSE/YQ4NvshfBFQ/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBGLp5mROyc/VKRkZCagrkI/AAAAAAAAGSE/YQ4NvshfBFQ/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>N O V E M B E R<br />We celebrated Thanksgiving three times with our families. &nbsp;I hosted my mom's side Thanksgiving night which was so much fun!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XiAzQIyUj8/VKRFqxK-jdI/AAAAAAAAGOA/iT1BMINvKSg/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XiAzQIyUj8/VKRFqxK-jdI/AAAAAAAAGOA/iT1BMINvKSg/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>D E C E M B E R<br />We started the month by going to the <a href="http://www.seasonswiththestrattons.com/2014/12/god-moments-increase-conference-pao.html">Professional Athletes Outreach Increase Conference</a> in Colorado Springs to worship with other professional baseball families. &nbsp;And we celebrated Christmas with both families!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zeu5UMT3TRA/VKRF-eAFpGI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/XirYWY4gVIM/s1600/Buskirk%2BChristmas%2BEve%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zeu5UMT3TRA/VKRF-eAFpGI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/XirYWY4gVIM/s1600/Buskirk%2BChristmas%2BEve%2B.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEVB9z6-QjM/VKRe2p4bzjI/AAAAAAAAGP4/FZDJ-9eEej4/s1600/Stratton%2BChristmas%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEVB9z6-QjM/VKRe2p4bzjI/AAAAAAAAGP4/FZDJ-9eEej4/s1600/Stratton%2BChristmas%2B.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We were very blessed in 2014 with lots of sweet memories! Reviewing our year has been such a great reminder of all that we have to be thankful for! We can't see what 2015 brings!<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-50796715267976540352014-12-19T05:00:00.000-06:002014-12-19T08:37:24.021-06:00My Tiny House Dream<br>The Spring Training housing search has started which only leads to frustration. &nbsp;Scottsdale has to be the most expensive place to live ever combined with finding somewhere that does a six week lease that is furnished... It is close to impossible. &nbsp;And it makes me want to pull my hair out and cry. <br><br>So instead of being productive and emailing actual prospects... I've been dreaming instead of buying one of these absolutely precious Tiny Homes and just finding an RV park to live at wherever baseball takes us. &nbsp;I think my husband thinks I am crazy... But I think these houses are the cutest things ever, so what if they are only 200 square feet!<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCxZnm7nBqE/VJOBC_p-OuI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/zQ4vPOQNbBs/s1600/mobile-tiny-cottage-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCxZnm7nBqE/VJOBC_p-OuI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/zQ4vPOQNbBs/s1600/mobile-tiny-cottage-001.jpg" height="640" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyhousetalk.com/mobile-tiny-cottage/">Source</a>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goj-_C8JTJk/VJOBC8f-tdI/AAAAAAAAGMI/1LY7o_nsEIg/s1600/mobile-tiny-cottage-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goj-_C8JTJk/VJOBC8f-tdI/AAAAAAAAGMI/1LY7o_nsEIg/s1600/mobile-tiny-cottage-002.jpg" height="640" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyhousetalk.com/mobile-tiny-cottage/">Source</a><br><br><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">So the rundown is, these houses are built on&nbsp;trailers that you can drive around and park at RV parks. &nbsp;They are made just like RVs with hookups for&nbsp;electricity and plumbing. &nbsp;But how much cuter are they than an RV?&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FO3y4hTBHu4/VJOEIQ3LuBI/AAAAAAAAGMc/U3Icfv742Og/s1600/robins-nest-tiny-house-on-wheels-by-brevard-tiny-homes-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FO3y4hTBHu4/VJOEIQ3LuBI/AAAAAAAAGMc/U3Icfv742Og/s1600/robins-nest-tiny-house-on-wheels-by-brevard-tiny-homes-0001.jpg" height="640" width="530"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyhousetalk.com/robins-nest-tiny-house/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source</span></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-EgZZ1_4HE/VJOEIQ4TW6I/AAAAAAAAGMg/S6mn31c0SXc/s1600/robins-nest-tiny-house-on-wheels-by-brevard-tiny-homes-0008-600x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-EgZZ1_4HE/VJOEIQ4TW6I/AAAAAAAAGMg/S6mn31c0SXc/s1600/robins-nest-tiny-house-on-wheels-by-brevard-tiny-homes-0008-600x800.jpg" height="640" width="480"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyhousetalk.com/robins-nest-tiny-house/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think what is so appealing about these tiny houses is the thought of NEVER having to search for an apartment during baseball season again. &nbsp;I can't decide if it is any smarter financially... I mean yes renting is just throwing money out the window, but what do we do with our tiny home when baseball is over or we have lots of kiddos running around. &nbsp;I don't see the tiny home being a permanent fix by any means, but I definitely think it would save money on rent for a few seasons. &nbsp;Then could we ever sell the tiny home? Then there is the whole idea of being parked in a RV park in my tiny home alone while Chris is on long road trips that kind of sketches me out. &nbsp;All things to think about...&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhi_hvRo0XQ/VJOFeELV04I/AAAAAAAAGMw/yYmTogGdRgk/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhi_hvRo0XQ/VJOFeELV04I/AAAAAAAAGMw/yYmTogGdRgk/s1600/2.jpg" height="426" width="640"></a></div><a href="http://www.designswan.com/archives/protohaus-cozy-house-on-wheels.html">Source</a><br> <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcTMq3YTWrc/VJOFeJ7sDHI/AAAAAAAAGM0/M4FKNsSU3gE/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcTMq3YTWrc/VJOFeJ7sDHI/AAAAAAAAGM0/M4FKNsSU3gE/s1600/3.jpg" height="640" width="466"></a></div>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.designswan.com/archives/protohaus-cozy-house-on-wheels.html">Source</a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia73XquzoIM/VJOFeETou9I/AAAAAAAAGM4/pwifQdCY_Mw/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia73XquzoIM/VJOFeETou9I/AAAAAAAAGM4/pwifQdCY_Mw/s1600/6.jpg" height="496" width="640"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.designswan.com/archives/protohaus-cozy-house-on-wheels.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source</span></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Chances are we just find apartments for the rest of Chris baseball career, and this tiny house idea is just a fun dream that distracts me from actually apartment searching. &nbsp;But don't be totally shocked if you catch me one day driving across the country pulling my baseball season home behind me. <br><br>Could you ever live in a Tiny House?Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-90828816755569724862014-12-18T05:00:00.000-06:002015-03-10T21:19:01.741-05:00Cranberry Apple Puff Pastry <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L48OwyccYVE/VPZW84tFhtI/AAAAAAAAGkk/uynzXAnp6Qw/s1600/Cranberry%2BApple%2BPuff%2BPastry%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L48OwyccYVE/VPZW84tFhtI/AAAAAAAAGkk/uynzXAnp6Qw/s1600/Cranberry%2BApple%2BPuff%2BPastry%2B.png" height="640" title="Cranberry Apple Puff Pastry Recipe" width="478" /></a></div><br />I told y'all I was on a major cranberry kick. &nbsp;Well these Cranberry Apple Puff Pastries really have hit the spot. &nbsp;They are super easy to make and would be a great dessert to take to any Christmas party! These are fun to make when you are in the mood to make a mess in the kitchen. &nbsp;My favorite messes to make in the kitchen involve powdered sugar. &nbsp;These pastries are yummy served right out of the oven. &nbsp;They were a hit with my family for a football watching party! The lemon and cranberry add just enough tartness with the sweetness of the powdered sugar. &nbsp;I also love making this Cranberry Apple Sauce to add to other things. &nbsp;It is a really versatile sauce. Let me know what you think!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JC4vt8pnBWk/VHvxKJpb32I/AAAAAAAAGJw/sKZOVCmtGhc/s1600/Puff%2BPastry%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JC4vt8pnBWk/VHvxKJpb32I/AAAAAAAAGJw/sKZOVCmtGhc/s1600/Puff%2BPastry%2B2.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="ERSIngredients" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ERSIngredientsHeader ERSHeading" style="clear: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I N G R E D I E N T S&nbsp;</b></span></div><div class="ERSIngredientsHeader ERSHeading" style="clear: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: inherit;">2 sheets frozen puff pastry, defrosted</span><br /><span style="line-height: inherit;">2/3 cup cranberry apple sauce (recipe below)</span><br /><span style="line-height: inherit;">1 tbsp half-and-half or milk</span><br /><span style="line-height: inherit;">optional egg-wash: 1 egg and 2 tsp half-and-half or milk</span><br /><span style="line-height: inherit;">optional topping: 1 tbsp powdered sugar</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Homemade Cranberry Apple Sauce&nbsp;</b></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3/4 cup water</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">juice and zest of 1 lemon</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup sugar</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 cups (12oz) fresh cranberries</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 medium apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped</span></span></div><div class="ERSClear" style="clear: both; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div></div><div class="ERSInstructions" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ERSInstructionsHeader ERSHeading" style="clear: both; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>D I R E C T I O N S&nbsp;</b></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Make the Cranberry Apple Sauce</i></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: inherit;">-Add the water and sugar to a sauce pot and bring to a boil, stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves. &nbsp;Add the lemon juice, zest, cranberries, and apple to the pot and bring to a boil.</span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Turn the heat down to medium-low, and let simmer for 10-12 minutes. &nbsp;Stir occasionally and make sure the cranberries have softened. &nbsp;Let cool and refrigerate until ready to use.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Make the Cranberry Apple Puff Pastry</i></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Unfold the puff pastry onto a sheet of parchment paper. With a sharp knife, cut the puff pastry square into quarters. Brush the edges of each pastry square (about 1/2-inch wide) with the half-and-half or milk. Place about a tablespoon of the cranberry apple sauce in the center of each square, reserving as much liquid as possible. Fold each pastry square in half diagonally, and place on the sheet pan.</span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="ERSSectionHead" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-For golden-brown turnovers, whisk together the egg and cream, and brush the tops of each turnover. Bake for 16-18 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and cooked through, and the cranberry pear sauce is bubbly. Remove from the oven and let cool on a baking rack. Serve warm with a dusting of powdered sugar.</span></span></div></div>&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YgrD0ODc0lk/VHvxJ5B2MRI/AAAAAAAAGJs/tBH9mvp8qsQ/s1600/Puff%2BPastry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YgrD0ODc0lk/VHvxJ5B2MRI/AAAAAAAAGJs/tBH9mvp8qsQ/s1600/Puff%2BPastry.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-28478907690441154482014-12-16T05:00:00.000-06:002014-12-16T05:00:02.325-06:00God Moments-The Increase Conference PAO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcqrLlxYPDM/VI8NVqVK1bI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/VkBTpZyophI/s1600/Colorado%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcqrLlxYPDM/VI8NVqVK1bI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/VkBTpZyophI/s1600/Colorado%2B2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />Two weeks ago, Chris and I spent a week worshipping beside 300 professional baseball players and their families. &nbsp;We heard messages from David Platt, Francis Change, and others. &nbsp;We were led in worship by David Crowder and The Katinas. &nbsp;And God moved in us and through us all week.<br /><br />I've spent the last two weeks trying my best to process everything that the Lord stirred in my heart while we were in Colorado. &nbsp;And honestly, I don't think I've gotten my head around it all yet. <br /><br />The Increase Conference is hosted by Professional Athletes Outreach (PAO). &nbsp;They host an NFL and MLB conference each year. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVurpf5S1rE/VI8NdIBUd9I/AAAAAAAAGLY/Hk0bVjWaPkc/s1600/Colorado%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVurpf5S1rE/VI8NdIBUd9I/AAAAAAAAGLY/Hk0bVjWaPkc/s1600/Colorado%2B4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />To give you a rundown of the conference, we were there for 4 days. &nbsp;Each morning we were there we started with a Bible study led by David Platt, and then had breakfast and a morning session with worship and a message. &nbsp;We also had core groups that we met with throughout the conference. &nbsp;I loved all the ladies in my core group! It is always so good to talk to women that have lived this life much longer than me and see that they are still alive...I'm kidding, but not really. &nbsp;We had workshops we could choose to go to the two full days we were there. &nbsp;I went to the Women's workshop led by Gari Meacham on Wednesday, and Chris went to the Finance workshop. &nbsp;There will be a whole post dedicate to what all I learned from Gari. &nbsp;Her message was one that I think any woman needs to hear, not just baseball women! On Thursday, Chris and I both went to the Marriage workshop and it was wonderful! After free time in the afternoon, we had an evening session with worship and another message.<br /><br />We were literally poured into all day, and it was so good. &nbsp;But I think it was the general consensus of everybody there that our brains were fried in the best way possible.<br /><br />We heard from different organizations as well throughout the conference. &nbsp;One of those being the <a href="https://www.ijm.org/">International Justice Mission</a> (IJM). &nbsp;IJM works to end slavery around the world, and the work they are doing is amazing. &nbsp;Gary Haugen showed us undercover videos of raids that IJM led to free slaves and told us stories of real people that have lived in slavery. &nbsp;He showed us videos of children being rescued out of brothels. &nbsp;Something changes when you see real people being used as slaves. &nbsp;It becomes more than just a problem somewhere else, but a problem you want to help fix. &nbsp;There are more slaves right now than any other time in history. &nbsp;Let that sink in. &nbsp;More on this to come, but it was one of the many things that stirred out hearts.<br /><br />We also heard from the <a href="https://theseedcompany.org/">Seed Company</a>&nbsp;that is working to translate the Bible into languages that do not have a Bible translation. &nbsp;How sad is it that I've never thought about the Bible not being translated in every language. &nbsp;That there are so many people in this world that have never read the Bible because it isn't in their native language. &nbsp;Jesus becomes a friend, not a foreigner, when we give people the Bible in their own language. &nbsp;Just another example of how God stirred my heart.<br /><br />This doesn't even begin to get into the ways the Lord used the messages from Francis Chan and David Platt. &nbsp;But this post would turn into a complete novel if I went there. &nbsp;I'm sure those messages will begin to appear in writing once I process what all the Lord has to say. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_WjkA42kC8/VI8NeiiziSI/AAAAAAAAGLg/PekpcgE2yHA/s1600/Chris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_WjkA42kC8/VI8NeiiziSI/AAAAAAAAGLg/PekpcgE2yHA/s1600/Chris.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />To any Professional Baseball family, The Increase Conference is December 1-4 next year in Atlanta. &nbsp;Please go sign up right now. &nbsp;It will seriously be the best thing you could do for your faith, marriage, and career. &nbsp;You can sign up <a href="https://pao.z2systems.com/np/clients/pao/event.jsp?event=2872&amp;">here</a>. &nbsp;Chris and I won't miss a conference from now on if it is in our control!Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-3038411164295314012014-12-15T10:02:00.002-06:002014-12-15T10:02:43.690-06:00Blogger Christmas Swaps <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Blogger Christmas swaps are too much fun. &nbsp;I mean really, who doesn't love getting goodies in the mail from new friends? This year I participated in the Color Swap hosted by <a href="http://www.twomiracles.net/">Two Miracles</a>&nbsp;and the Great Christmas Exchange hosted by <a href="http://www.elahtree.com/2014/10/the-great-christmas-exchange-2014.html">Elah Tree</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.oakandoats.com/">Oak + Oaks</a>. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was so excited to be paired up with Hayley for the Color Swap because we've recently become blog friends since I sponsored <a href="http://www.abeautifulexchangeblog.com/">A Beautiful Exchange</a>! It was fun because we are both loving the color Mint right now, so we got to shop for similar colors. &nbsp;I forgot to take a picture of what I sent Hayley, but you can see her awesome pictures <a href="http://www.abeautifulexchangeblog.com/color-swap-reveal/">here</a>. &nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V75-4GZbmTQ/VI8Aftp8YXI/AAAAAAAAGKU/WFSehFVchJU/s1600/Color%2BSwap%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V75-4GZbmTQ/VI8Aftp8YXI/AAAAAAAAGKU/WFSehFVchJU/s1600/Color%2BSwap%2B1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />I absolutely loved everything Hayley sent me! The mint notebook and "Don't Forget" list were my favorite. &nbsp;I love writing list, so these were right up my alley! How cut are those "Hey" postcards? Can't wait to send some happy mail with these! I also loved the Christmas candle!<br /><br />Hayley also sent me three Christmas ornaments that I absolutely adore!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpw3JKfrvEc/VI8Elv0wCvI/AAAAAAAAGK8/dJu4Wpj0a9s/s1600/C%26M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpw3JKfrvEc/VI8Elv0wCvI/AAAAAAAAGK8/dJu4Wpj0a9s/s1600/C%26M.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dUc23Sqwl6o/VI8ElFWj4iI/AAAAAAAAGK4/SJC-rIb7EbY/s1600/Merry%2BChristmas%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dUc23Sqwl6o/VI8ElFWj4iI/AAAAAAAAGK4/SJC-rIb7EbY/s1600/Merry%2BChristmas%2B.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was so sweet of Hayley to send me ornaments! I love that she sent our initials and the Merry Christmas ornament is so pretty! Thank you Hayley for my wonderful gifts!!<br /><br />For the Great Christmas Exchange, I got to send gifts to <a href="http://www.lifewithgraceblog.com/">Amanda</a>&nbsp;and you can check out her <a href="http://instagram.com/lifewithgraceblog/">instagram</a> for what I sent her! <a href="http://www.joyfullyorganized.com/">Sarah</a> drew my name and sent me an awesome package!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DfFqCrsi-3k/VI8Agfiae_I/AAAAAAAAGKY/WNcUZ9dRcqw/s1600/Christmas%2BExchange%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DfFqCrsi-3k/VI8Agfiae_I/AAAAAAAAGKY/WNcUZ9dRcqw/s1600/Christmas%2BExchange%2B2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />I just loved every single thing Sarah sent me! I've been wanting to get my hands on "The Nesting Place" for a while, so I was so excited to see it in my box. &nbsp;I also loved the precious cookie cutters and sweet smelling lotion!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XrS27wRT_dY/VI8AhXwNr-I/AAAAAAAAGKo/_K7GV7-RgE4/s1600/Christmas%2BExchange%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XrS27wRT_dY/VI8AhXwNr-I/AAAAAAAAGKo/_K7GV7-RgE4/s1600/Christmas%2BExchange%2B1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br />How cozy does this look? I'm actually drinking out of this mug while I write this post! I just love it! Thank you so much Sarah for my sweet gifts!<br /><br />Have you ever participated in a blogger swap?Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-78152434016027563502014-12-12T05:00:00.000-06:002015-03-03T18:50:31.466-06:00Cranberry and Pecan Baked Brie <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WhwfcSFs88/VPZWrEcMH_I/AAAAAAAAGkc/62Fc3bujhWQ/s1600/Cranberry%2BPecan%2BBaked%2BBrie%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WhwfcSFs88/VPZWrEcMH_I/AAAAAAAAGkc/62Fc3bujhWQ/s1600/Cranberry%2BPecan%2BBaked%2BBrie%2B.png" height="640" title="Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie Recipe " width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Cranberries have been the theme this week, and this recipe does not disappoint. &nbsp;I had never tried brie before I tried this recipe. &nbsp;But after seeing a few brie recipes floating around Pinterest, I had to try my hand at creating a baked brie. <br /><br />This recipe is super easy and quick, but is beautiful! It makes a great dish to take to Christmas parties as an appetizer.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bgd1hmKgjjI/VHvrWE2lHSI/AAAAAAAAGJM/pwX2Lu3JDkQ/s1600/Baked%2BBrie%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bgd1hmKgjjI/VHvrWE2lHSI/AAAAAAAAGJM/pwX2Lu3JDkQ/s1600/Baked%2BBrie%2B3.jpg" height="408" title="Cranberry and Pecan Baked Brie" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><i>CRANBERRY and PECAN BAKED BRIE</i><br />I N G R E D I E N T S<br />-1 Cup of Chopped Pecans<br />-8 oz Wheel of Brie<br />-3 Tablespoons of Honey<br />-Homemade Cranberry Sauce (recipe below)<br /><br />D I R E C T I O N S<br />-Toast the pecans in a skillet with butter until they are browned.<br />-Cover the Brie with the honey and bake on 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.<br />-When the Brie is done, top it with the toasted pecans and homemade cranberry sauce.<br />-Serve warm with bread or crackers and enjoy!<br /><br /><i>HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE</i><br />I N G R E D I E N T S<br />-3/4 cup of Water<br />-Juice and Zest of One Lemon<br />-1 Cup of Sugar<br />-3 Cups of Fresh Cranberries<br /><br />D I R E C T I O N S<br />-Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. &nbsp;Stir occasionally.<br />-Add the lemon juice, zest, and cranberries to the pot.<br />-Simmer on medium-low heat for 10-12 minutes until the cranberries have soften. &nbsp;Stir occasionally.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLz4Da1Zkpc/VHvrXOkwTQI/AAAAAAAAGJU/EnB4KvAVXWI/s1600/Baked%2BBrie%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLz4Da1Zkpc/VHvrXOkwTQI/AAAAAAAAGJU/EnB4KvAVXWI/s1600/Baked%2BBrie%2B4.jpg" height="426" title="Cranberry and Pecan Baked Brie" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-85521933675802305842014-12-03T05:00:00.000-06:002014-12-03T05:00:03.852-06:00Wednesday's Words Break Jenni and I have decided to take a break from hosting Wednesday's Words for December! We love getting to read each one of the posts that y'all share each Wednesday. &nbsp;But in order to really enjoy this Christmas season that is already busy enough, we decided it would be best to take a little break. &nbsp;In the meantime, we might be working on a few new things to make this linkup even better for 2015! (Side note, I can't believe it is about to be 2015!)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2KhbtDGBZw/VHvoPJ9oEbI/AAAAAAAAGIw/JHOrIrQbK-Q/s1600/Big%2BWednesday's%2BWords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2KhbtDGBZw/VHvoPJ9oEbI/AAAAAAAAGIw/JHOrIrQbK-Q/s1600/Big%2BWednesday's%2BWords.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br />If you are interested in co-hosting Wednesday's Words starting in January please email me at mk.stratton11@gmail.com! We love being able to have weekly cohosts!<br /><br />So for now, you will probably still see some faith-based posts on Wednesdays because it has just become a habit. &nbsp;And I would love to encourage you to participate in <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/category/plans/adore-him/">She Reads Truth's Advent Study</a>&nbsp;to keep us focused on the real meaning of the season! If you want to talk about this study, feel free to email me! I'm trying to keep up, and would love to discuss it with you!Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241594856860290703.post-9960216199259289142014-12-02T05:00:00.000-06:002014-12-02T05:00:05.831-06:00Giving Tuesday // RafikiFriends I know we are all familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but how many of you have heard of Giving Tuesday? It is a movement that was created solely for the purpose to give back. &nbsp;And today, I would love for you to join me in supporting RafikiFriends on this #GivingTuesday!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFFWVwA74f8/VHqpwa4ZbKI/AAAAAAAAGH0/uF5-diypNDY/s1600/10644387_895086360516387_6462838503972593376_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFFWVwA74f8/VHqpwa4ZbKI/AAAAAAAAGH0/uF5-diypNDY/s1600/10644387_895086360516387_6462838503972593376_o.jpg" height="456" title="#GivingTuesday RafikiFriends" width="640" /></a></div><br />I visited the Rafiki Orphanage in Ghana, Africa almost three years ago to the day. &nbsp;That two week trip is still impacting me today. &nbsp;I can honestly say I haven't digested everything the Lord showed me while I was in Africa. &nbsp;But I do know that a part of my heart will forever be with the kids that I met while there. &nbsp;It was an experience that three years later I still don't have the words for. &nbsp;When you hold children that have been through more than any child should ever endure, your life changes. &nbsp;Your views on the world change. &nbsp;You are a different person than you were, for the better. &nbsp;The kids that live at Rafiki have taught me more than any other person. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-El9M3JRSrzo/VHqrmRnxM3I/AAAAAAAAGII/jkus3KgyQQE/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-El9M3JRSrzo/VHqrmRnxM3I/AAAAAAAAGII/jkus3KgyQQE/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>But what breaks my heart is these sweet kids that taught me so much have needs. &nbsp;Needs that can only be met with the financial support of people like you. &nbsp;They need clothes to go to school, a new dining hall and supplies after a terrible fire, and basic needs like food and water. <br /><br />So, on this Giving Tuesday, will you please consider giving to RafikiFriends? It would mean more to me than I can put into words to support the place that gives a home to kids that I absolutely love. Martha Kate Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05247411242418100086noreply@blogger.com0